A woman expressed her “shock” after receiving a £150 fine for disposing of leftover coffee into a road gully in west London.

Burcu Yesilyurt, a resident of Kew, believed she was being “responsible” when she emptied a small amount of coffee from her reusable cup into the drain, rather than risk spilling it on the bus she was about to board for work.

To her astonishment, she was approached by three enforcement officers at the bus stop near Richmond station and fined under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The Richmond-upon-Thames Council stated that their officers “acted in a professional and objective manner” and that the fine was in accordance with established policies.

Ms. Yesilyurt recounted, “I saw my bus coming, so I just disposed of the little leftover bit. It was hardly anything.”

However, she was quickly confronted by three enforcement officials who stopped her immediately. Ms. Yesilyurt believed they were going to discuss something related to the bus when she was halted on October 10, and she was “completely unaware” that pouring liquid into a road gully was against the law.

“It was a real surprise,” she admitted.

When Ms. Yesilyurt asked the officers if there were any signs or warnings about the regulations, they did not provide a response.

Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 prohibits the dumping or disposal of waste in ways that could lead to pollution of land or water, which includes emptying liquids into street drainage systems.

She was issued a fine of £150, which could be reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days.

Describing the encounter, she found the presence of the officers “quite intimidating” and felt “nervous” as she headed to work afterward.

A spokesperson for Richmond Council mentioned that body-worn camera footage had been reviewed, and they disagreed with claims of aggressive behavior by the officers.

“The footage indicates that the officers acted professionally and were considerate of the situation,” they stated.

Ms. Yesilyurt noted that when she asked the officers what she should have done with the leftover coffee, they instructed her to dispose of it in a nearby bin. She insisted that her intention was to act responsibly and prevent littering.

“It seems very unjust. The fine feels excessive and not proportionate,” she remarked.

She has urged for clearer signage regarding the law to be installed near bins and bus stops.

As of now, she has not yet paid the fine and has lodged a complaint with the council.

The Richmond Council spokesperson commented, “No one enjoys receiving a fine, and we strive to enforce our policies fairly and compassionately. We are dedicated to protecting Richmond’s waterways and ensuring our streets are clean and safe. Enforcement actions are reserved for necessary situations, and residents who believe a fine has been incorrectly issued can request a review.”